Greener Christchurch

I am so proud to stand alongside my caucus colleagues and Green Party Christchurch candidates to announce our Greener Christchurch policy for this election.

We held the launch at the beautiful new Visitor’s Centre at the Botanic Gardens, where we announced our commitment to smart transport solutions, a greener rebuild, a return of local democracy and spending that puts the needs of Christchurch people first.

A $462 million investment in smart transport solutions for Christchurch over five years, including establishing Canterbury Transport – a single body responsible for transport across Greater Christchurch, as well as investing in safe cycling and public transport

A commitment to remove any pressure on the Christchurch City Council to sell strategic assets by putting a new stadium on hold and a more flexible approach to the cost-sharing agreement

A commitment to restoring local democracy by holding regional council elections at ECan in 2015, removing the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority’s emergency powers, and returning power to the Christchurch City Council

Greening the rebuild with $20 million allocated to progressing the Avon-Otakaro River Park and $15 million for climate change adaptation.

When I think about Christchurch, I think about a city which remembers its past and weaves that into its present and future. A city which celebrates its natural landscapes and location on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, on a floodplain created by the magnificent Waimakariri River, sheltered by the Port Hills, threaded by the Otakaro-Avon and the Opawaho-Heathcote rivers. A city with strong local decision-making and meaningful public conversations about the decisions that affect our community. A city which is compact, and easy to get around on foot, and by bike and bus.

This is about having our city back. About having a say in how we recover and rebuild, and the type of future we create here.

That’s why I’m proud of the Green Party’s vision for Christchurch – a liveable, accessible city with a sense of identity and strong, connected communities. Where there is a genuine partnership between central and local government, and a genuine voice for the people of Christchurch.

We think it’s time for new leadership of the Canterbury rebuild. A greener, fairer, smarter and more democratic Canterbury rebuild.